Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Seattle 2.0, and imported to GeekWire as part of our acquisition of Seattle 2.0 and its archival content. For more background, see this post.
By Jennifer Cabala
TechStars announced it would be taking it’s brand of startup mentoring to Seattle last year, but would-be founders have had to wait to apply. The wait is over. You can now fill out your application explaining your idea, your history and the skills you bring to the table. TechStars promises three months of first class mentorship, guest talks by a-list entrepreneurs and some seed funding ($6000/per person) to get your startup going. At the end of the program, you present to a group of investors who could potentially offer you funding to take your startup to the next level. In exchange, TechStars gets a small founders share, but you retain control.
An impressive group of startups has come out of the TechStars program, and 75 percent of their 39 graduates are still in business. The process is very selective, with the organization accepting only about 10 companies. The first class starts in August of this year. The deadline to apply is June 1st.